Introduction

This gluten-free cake has taken many attempts to get absolutely right, but we feel we have now created a fantastic recipe that will be greeted with delight at any baby shower or afternoon tea.

Makes one single-layer 23cm cake

Ingredients

For the Caramel Sauce:

3

oranges

2 tablespoons

water

100g

granulated sugar

60g

unsalted butter

For the Cake:

200g

unsalted butter, at room temperature

200g

caster sugar

3

large eggs, preferably free-range or organic

juice of 3 oranges

2

teaspoons orange blossom essence

100g

gluten-free plain flour

1 teaspoon

gluten-free baking powder

2 teaspoons

ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon

salt

160g

fine instant polenta

200g

ground almonds

2 tablespoons

good-quality marmalade

1 tablespoon

water

40g

chopped, unsalted pistachios

Essential kit

You will need a 23cm baking tin.

Instructions

Grease and line a 23cm baking tin, then place this inside a larger tin or tray to protect your oven from any drips. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C (fan)/350F/gas 4.

First make the caramel sauce. Finely zest the oranges and reserve for later. Using a serrated knife, carefully slice off the top and bottom of each orange and then sides, following the shape of the orange. Slice the peeled orange horizontally into roughly 0.5cm thick pieces, depending on the size of the orange.

In a heavy-based pan off the heat, place the water and sugar for the caramel and mix a little until you have a paste-like consistency. Transfer to a medium to high heat, but do not stir, as this will incorporate air into the caramel and cause it to crystallize.

Keep heating the sugar until it is light brown in colour. Remove from the heat and carefully add the butter, a little at a time. Be very careful to hold the pan away from you, as it can easily spatter.

Once all the butter is incorporated, quickly pour the caramel into the prepared tin and leave to cool slightly. Then lay the orange slices neatly on top.

Now make the sponge. Cream the butter and sugar together, then add the eggs, one by one, followed by the orange juice, orange blossom essence and reserved zest. Mix until well combined. Sift the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt together in a bowl, then add to the batter along with the polenta and ground almonds. Pour this batter into the tin on top of the oranges and caramel and spread evenly.

Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes, until springy to touch or when an inserted skewer comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes, then turn it upside down onto a cake board or plate so that the orange slices are now on the top. Remove layer of baking paper at this point. Allow to cool fully.

Once cool, melt the marmalade and water together in a small pan and brush over the surface of the cake to give it a shiny appearance. Top with the chopped pistachios.